Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-11-12
I GOVERNMENT.
Meeting of the New Councll-Ap-
polntments ana Combinations.

lowing appointments:
City auditor-C. M. Fisher.
City treasurer-L. Council.
City attorney.-W. w. Wlshart.
Chief of polics.-E. A. Pierce.
On motion of Alderman Cleveland the
nomination Of G. NJ. Fisher IS auditor
was confirmed.
On motion the appointment Of L.
Council as city treasurer was confirmed.
On motion the appointment Of w. w.
Wishart as city attorney was confirmed.
On motion the appointment of f. a.
Pierce as chief Of police was confirmed.
Moved by Alderman Cleveland that
the bond of the city auditor be fixed at
$500. Carried.
Moved by Alderman Stanley that the
t%reasurer's bond be fixed at $4,000. Car.
ried.
Moved by Alderman Cleveland that
the bond of city attorney be fixed At $500.
Carried.
Moved by Alderman Cleveland that
the bond Of chief of police DO fixed at
$500. Carried.
On motion the vote OH the motion fix
ing tho bond of chief of police was recon-
sidered.
Moved by Alderman Stanley that the
bond of chief of police DO fixed at $1,000.
Carried.
On motion tho vote on the motion fix
ing the bond Of the city auditor was re-
considered.
Moved by Alderman Chamberlin that
the bond Of city auditor be fixed at $1,000.
Carried.
The organization of tho council being
completed the mayor presented and read
the following address which was made
a part of the proceedings:
To the Honorable the city Council i:
GENTLEMEN: Section IL, Of Article II
Of the act under which this city is now
organized provides that the mayor shall
give tho council Information relative to
city affairs, and recommend for their
consideration such measures as he may
deem expedient.
In exercising what appears to be an
imperative duty, I have been influenced
by, no small degree of modesty, because
l n that this board is composed of a
majority of gentleman who have previ-
ously served the city, and I have no
doubt they are, by reason of their exper-
fence, moro familiar with the needs of
Devils Lake than I could possible be at
this time.
However. I have some general views
on the question of measures which may
be of some benefit to the city and it's pco-
pie. It u be admitted that our city
has enjoyed and is now enjoying a pros
perity calculated to excite tho envy and
jealousy of more %pretentious places.
This prosperity is the result of two nat
ural causes. Dur favorable location is
one cause; the magnificent country
which surrounds us furnishes the other
cause. The effect of these two principal
causes is highly tlattering in past bene-
fits and gives encouragement for future
bright prospects.
But we should mo rest upon the laurels
of the past. We must push on to some
thing better, something greater. Our
present prosperity is only transient, il
we do not adopt the means to make i,
permanent. We must expand, build up
reach out. and grow stronger, so that We
may not only keep what we havo and
make our present possessions more i'm.
portant, but add TO them and acquire new
advantages.
, Population is the great essential in all
cities. TO acquire population, there
must be certain inducements held out,
else people will not come here to make
homes. This leads to the question,
"What are the inducements OF Devils
Lake in this particular? Have we here
the things necessary 70 attract people
and lead them to make their residence
amongst us?
In looking over a bundle of letters re-
, ceived from time to time enclosing in.
quiries concerning Devils Lake, I find
that the chief inquiry has been, "Havt
you plenty of good water? Then fol.
| low in their order: Have you gooc
schools? Have you any public build.
ings? Have you many churchs? All
these questions haye been satisfactorily
erence to water and public buildings.
I believe the water question is the first
that should engage the attention of the
council. 1t received considerable at
i, tentiOn from your predecessors, wht
made such progress in their inquire!
and Investigations rs will no doubt b,
valuable to you now I am free to sa,
' that l do not believe the Freshwatel
lake project is practicable. At least i
. is not practicable at the present time
owing, first, to tho low stage of water
and, secondly, to the financial inability
of the city to undertake the work of tap
ping the lake. An artesian we'll seem!
+ to be the only alternative. Good waite
, has been secured from artesian wells a
other points in North Dakota, and I cal
find no satisfactory reason for saying i
n cannot be had at this point. Our pres
ent supply of water is from what ar
known as surface wells, running from
depth OF 25 to IS feet. The deeper tn
we'll the better the water. The artesial
we'll at the Minneapolis & Northern Gle
vat0r is a small one. 1t is only 100 fee
deep and consequently tho flow is no
strong. The water, however, is goo,
e being soft and pallatable. The ~railroa'
we'll is 800 feet deep. That also furnishe
good water, and the flow is stronger thai
the elevator we'll. Now suppose yo
1 20 a Thousand feet into the earth. If yor
fail to get good drinking water, 20
g sewer, sprinkling and other purposes
= This would greatly relieve ordinary re
- quiremcnts in the water line. 1 feel n
hesitation in recommending the expert
!, ment as being worthy of a trial. 1t
" for YOU, gentlemen, to decide what
g. best TODD.
:o| In the matter Of a city building whel
you may keep the city property in goo
'e orderand where you and your successor
t. may have a place to meet and transa'
the city's growing business, you mu
be guided, first, by the necessity forsuc
an institution and, secondly, by the abb
ity of the taxpayer to bear the eXpens
The law under which you are acting
al very liberal in regard to Improvement
"a It leaves the question of extraordinal
~ improvements to a vote of the peopl